Debbie Wardrope, Neighbor

Debbie Wardrope is a Bay Area native and longtime Pleasanton resident who has always loved art and has pursued painting for most of her life, even during her 20-year career in mortgage banking.<br><br>Debbie graduated &#34;With Distinction&#34; from the California College of Arts and Crafts (now California College of the Arts) in Oakland with a BFA in illustration.  Her work has been recognized through numerous awards, including &#34;Best of Class&#34; and merit awards at the Alameda County Fair.  She has exhibited in many group and solo shows, such as Art Expo in New York and has had paintings in galleries from Yountville to Carmel.  Debbie&#39;s work is included in private and corporate art collections around the nation.  Locally, Alameda County and the City of Pleasanton own her paintings.<br><br>Debbie&#39;s primary medium is pastel, but she also paints in oils and acrylics.  Her recent work focuses on the effects of light at sunset and twilight on the city, landscape and ocean.  Some of her latest projects capture the historic beauty of downtown Pleasanton.  Her influences include such early California artists as Frank Cuprien, Mary DeNeale Morgan and Granville Redmond.<br><br>Debbie says, &#34;I believe that art should be beautiful, accessible and evoke an emotional response in the viewer.  I strive to create images that are immediately recognizable but are things that are frequently overlooked in the rush of everyday life.  I love to capture a moment in time through the use of light and color.&#34;<br><br>A signature member of the Pastel Society of the West Coast, Debbie teaches pastel painting classes for adults and art classes for children through the City of Pleasanton, the Town of Danville and Studio 7 Arts.  She has also done demonstrations and workshops for several art associations.  <br><br>Debbie was honored to be selected by Senator Ellen Corbett to produce a painting representing her district to hang at the state capitol building in Sacramento, CA.  The painting, Pleasanton Evening, was on display in the meeting rooms behind the Senate Chamber through August of 2010.

<br>Her work will also be featured in the upcoming book, &#34;Best of Worldwide Landscape Artists.&#34;<br><br>She lives in Pleasanton with her husband, two children and an assortment of rescued dogs and cats.  Debbie&#39;s work is represented by Studio 7 Fine Arts in Pleasanton and New Masters Gallery in Carmel.<br><br>